Datasheet

Battery-operated LED project planning is discussed in greater detail in Battery Power for

LED Pixels and Strips (http://adafru.it/cDU).

For most non-portable “desktop” projects, a 5V DC

switching power supply (http://adafru.it/276) is

ideal. This small 2 Amp supply is good for a a

meter or so of NeoPixel strip. We’ll explain larger

projects in a moment.

Be extremely cautious with bench power

supplies. Some — even reputable, well-regarded

brands — can produce a large voltage spike when

initially switched on, instantly destroying your

NeoPixels!

If you use a bench supply, do not connect

NeoPixels directly. Turn on the power supply first,

let the voltage stabilize, then connect the pixels

(GND first).

Estimating Power Requirements

Each individual NeoPixel draws up to 60 milliamps at maximum brightness white (red + green +

blue). In actual use though, it’s rare for all pixels to be turned on that way. When mixing colors and

displaying animations, the current draw will be much less. It’s impossible to estimate a single

number for all circumstances, but we’ve been using 1/3 this (20 mA per pixel) as a gross rule of

thumb with no ill effects. But if you know for a fact that you need every pixel on at maximum

brightness, use the full 60 mA figure.

To estimate power supply needs, multiply the number of pixels by 20, then divide the result by 1,000

for the “rule of thumb” power supply rating in Amps. Or use 60 (instead of 20) if you want to

guarantee an absolute margin of safety for all situations. For example: